Page 62 of Lucas

Just when she couldn’t take it any longer his phone rang.

“Carter,” he answered sharply. “I don’t want excuses Bruce; I want to know what the hell happened. I’m putting you on speaker so my assistant can take notes.”

The phone cracked and Carter Media’s West Coast VP’s voice filled the room. As he made his points, Bria scribbled furiously. Ashton moved from behind the desk and sat down on the couch next to her, bringing his phone with him to set on the coffee table.

“Explain how we had the deal almost wrapped up and why Mogley is now dragging his damned feet about severance packages for the employees who want out after the buyout. The offer was more than generous.” The anger in Ashton’s voice was clear. When he wasn’t happy the tone dropped to a deep rumble that should not sound so sexy. She focused on what Bruce was saying and not on the way her skin tingled because he was so close.

Bria had her head bent and all her concentration on the words on her page when she felt a slight touch on her shoulder. She sucked in a quick breath and glanced over. Ashton’s focus was still on the phone, but he had one arm draped over the back of the couch and a single finger traced along her arm.

Goose bumps trailed where he touched and it took everything she had to concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing.

“I don’t want to counter his demand,” Ashton growled. “My offer was more than generous and he ought to count himself lucky that we didn’t low ball and come into this deal hostile. He’s mortgaged up to his damned eyeballs and he knows it.”

The pen skipped across her notepad when his fingers brushed the side of her breast. He still was not looking at her, but damn him if it didn’t make her ache all the more for it. Her handwriting grew choppier as she pretended Ashton wasn’t touching her.

Which became extremely difficult when the back of his hand slid down over her breast and across her hardened nipple. A sharp gasp escaped her lips and Bruce paused.

“Is everything okay?”

Ashton flicked his thumb over the tight peak again and she bit back a groan. This was so inappropriate and yet, her body was on edge waiting for more.

“It’s fine. Continue,” Ashton said. His voice had a laid back vibe to it, but Bria could see tension creeping into him. His jaw clenched and he shifted closer. Finally he looked at her.

The pen stopped moving and she was caught in his predatory stare. Her pulse fluttered wildly.

“I’d like you to go over all the points on this again so I am crystal clear,” Ashton said into the phone. “Don’t leave anything out.” His darkening stare never left her face. Once Bruce sighed and started over again, Ashton muted the phone and set it down. He sat back, his arms spread over the back of the couch and watched her. The voice on the phone continued, but Bria barely heard it.

“Come closer,” Ashton said.

She swallowed and scooted even closer to him.

The blue in his eyes was almost lost to the shadowy blackness and so intense she had to look away.

“Eyes on me, Ms. Long.” The deep timbre of his voice sent shivers along her skin. “Remember our agreement.” It wasn’t a question so much as a command. He reached out, dragged his fingers up her arm, and stroked along the column of her neck with his thumb. Air lodged in her throat. His gaze kept her captured so she saw every deeper shade as his eyes went darker.

In the background, the voice droned on, but she barely heard a word of it. The notebook was forgotten in her grasp. Ashton held all of her attention. Her gaze dropped to his lips for just a moment but it was all he needed.

“Do you want my lips there?” He pressed his thumb against the pulse beating frantically in her throat.

God she did, but this wasn’t really…

“The truth. Remember the agreement.” He held her there, his fingers holding her around the back of her neck, his thumb caressing her heartbeat.

“Yes,” she whispered. All thought of what they were doing fell away and all that mattered to her was this moment.

Approval shone in his eyes and he leaned forward, tilted her head to the side and ran his lips up the side of her neck. So soft, barely touching, but the effect was more powerful than anything she’d ever felt.

A low groan slipped past her lips. Electricity seemed to jolt out from where he touched her. He pulled away and she made a sound of disapproval in her throat. She wanted more.

“And here?” he asked softly, running his thumb along her jaw.

“Yes,” answered immediately. Nothing else mattered except the way Ashton was making her feel. She wanted more of the touches that were sending her mind into a tailspin. He ran his lips over chin, crept along taking light nibbled until her reached her ear, where he stopped and hovered. She felt his hot breath wash over the sensitive flesh and shivered.

Her fingers had curled around her note pad and pen as she held onto them in a desperate attempt not to reach out and grab his shirt and pull him onto her.

“Wet your lips,” he said in her ear.

He pulled back enough so that he could watch as she tentatively ran her tongue over the bottom then her top lip. His gaze focused on her mouth and his fingers tightened on her neck.